Belarus opposition seeks US technology help in struggle against Lukashenko

Belarus opposition seeks US technology help in struggle against Lukashenko
April 30, 2022, 6:30 am

On August 3- 2021, the leader of Belarus' opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya met with UK PM Boris Johnson at downing Street (Photo: UK PM official Facebook page)

The Anews reported, citing the AFP, the leader of Belarus' opposition said Friday (Apr 29) that the United States is looking at stepping up technological assistance in the struggle against strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who along with Western observers says she won a 2020 election against Lukashenko, spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior US officials and lawmakers on a trip to Washington.

She told the State Department Correspondents' Association: "I was assured of full support for the Belarusian democratic movement."

She said: "We also spoke about providing Belarusian journalists and activists with equipment and technology," adding that she discussed ways to circumvent regime disinformation including broadcasts of forced confessions.

Belarus opposition seeks US technology help (Photo: Pixabay)

Franak Viacorka, a senior advisor to Tikhanovskaya, said pro-democracy forces have also spoken to US technology companies to seek an end to lumping Belarus into the "Russian media ecosystem," which is closely censored.

Lukashenko, who has grown closer to Moscow as he cracks down on dissent following the 2020 election, has been one of the main international supporters of President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

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Tikhanovskaya said she shared with US officials evidence of Lukashenko's support for the war as well as a list of companies and countries that help circumvent Western sanctions on the regime.

She said: "We spoke about making sanctions more effective, closing remaining loopholes, freezing Lukashenko's assets and blocking the money given to him by the IMF."

Tikhanovskaya hailed individual Belarusians' resistance to using their territory against Ukraine, saying that around 80 railways used to transport Russian equipment were disrupted.

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The State Department in a statement said that Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who led the meeting involving Blinken, "emphasized the United States' enduring support for the Belarusian people's democratic aspirations."

Tikhanovskaya, who lives in exile in Lithuania, was visiting Washington for the memorial service of former secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

Source: anews

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